Condenser



Jan. 6, 19 31. 13 LITTLE 1,788,115

I CONDENSER Filed 001;. 22, 1926 T i .5. jmmmfl g Fig. 1.

Y INVENTQR BY 7 E g ATTORNEY 110mm) G. LITTLE, on nnonwoon, i nnnsimvan-In, .Assreiaon 'ro wEsTINGiiorIsE' Patented Jan. 6, 1931 ELECTRIC. & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA oonnnnsnp. f

Application filed October 22, 11921 s nainc. 1433a).

This invention relates to radio systems and particularly to transmitting systems in which the antenna is located out-o't-doors and the connection between it and the transmitting mechanism is. reactive.

It is an object of thisinvention to produce an antenna connection Whichshall be unaffected by the weather,

It is a further object of this invention to prevent falling rain-drops from causing noises in the receiving sets in which the signals from said transmitting system are re.- ceived.

In many transmitting systems now in use, it is customary to insert a condenser in the connection bet-ween the antenna and the re mainder of the transmitting set. Frequently, when the antenna is out-of-doors and the rest of the transmitting mechanism is inside a building, the condenser has been formed oi two vertical closely adjacent plates outside the building. It has been found that falling rain-drops passing between the condenser plates cause disturbances which appear as noises superposed upon the music or other signal transmitted.

I have avoided such disturbances by substituting for the condenser composed of two plates,-a condenser composed of a bell-shaped member and an upstanding member within the hell. I v

My invention will be better understood and further objects thereof perceived from the following description and the accorieanying drawing, in which;

Fig. 1 is a view, in elevation, of an antenna embodying my invention, V

Fig. 2 is a detail, partly in section, of the condenser, and

Fig. 3 is a similar detail oi'ia modification of one member of the condenser.

The mast 1 supports the vertical rigid antenna 2 having an inductance coil 3 near the middle thereof and an adjustable connection 4 between said coil and the lower half of capacity" element;

ahorizontal pipe 5 constitutes the lower turned upwand'ly. as shoi'v-n atfiG in Fig; 2, and

is inside of a bell-shape condi ictingmember,

7, Theb eill-shape member 7 and: the pipe 5 are supported upon suitable insulating supports 8.

(The-proper relativejposi-tion between the end 6 and the hell 7 issecured by a bracket 11. Any suitableprovision for ad nstment I the antenna. At rthe bottomoff the antenna omens of the pipe 5 is of therelative position of the end -(3 and the hell 7 may be made at thejunction of the insulators and the bracket or-of the insulators and the conductors supported thene'by. connection 12 extends from the hell 7 to the transmitting mechanism. The connection between conduetorlZ and the belll 7 may be afforded by a lug '13 or any similar device. The upper end on? the upturned part6 is rounded, as shown at 14, to avoid sharp edges. The top of the bell-shaped member is dome-shaped to correspond to the rounded end '14, inorder that the space between the upstanding end .6 and the bell may beof uniform thicknessthroughout. The :edge 15 of l the bell is flared outwardly, in order to provide a more gradual diminution of the field between the bell and the pipe and also to afing highest over the horizontal part of the pipe and lowest at the opposite side. This shape will ensure that, as water drips from I the behl, it will-not pass near the pipe.

i lie bell 7 may be made of sheet metal, as shown in Fig. In this form, the rounded edge is vproyided by a rolled fla nge '16. At

the point farthest from thepi-pet, the flange 1.6'ist11rnec ldown, as shown Tat'17 ,ito provide a spoutfrom which the rainrwater will drip without disturbing the field around the pipe.

In the operation of the device, a gy is received along the conductor 12 and delivcred to the pipe 5 by the condenser action between the bell 7 and the upturned end 6 of the pipe 57 The electric field established between the electrodes 6 and 7 is of substantially uniform distribution. Moreover, when it rains, no water-drops enter this field because it is sheltered by the bell-shape of the electrode 7 The dielectric constant of the material in the dielectric space remains unaltered, therefore, even during a rainstorm, and abrupt changes in the capacity of the condenser cannot be caused by such rain-drops. The noises caused by raindrops in the apparatus heretofore used are thereby avoided.

The rain which falls upon the outside of the hell 7 is without effect upon the field inside. Moreover, when the rain collects on the eaves 15 in the form of drops, the change in the shape of the electrode 7, caused by the collected drops, is almost completely without effect upon the capacity because the drops are at a greater distance from the pipe 5 than is most of the bell.

As rain-drops fall from the low point of the edge 15 or from the end of the spout 17 they pass through a path that is well outside the electric field of the pipe 5 and are Without eti'ect upon the signals.

While I have shown and described only two particular forms of my invention, changes from t c .c

may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a radio system, an antenna comprising an upright part and a lower part at an angle thereto, a connection to said antenna comprising a condenser, one element of which is the upturned end of said lower part.

2. In a radio system, an antenna comprising an upright part and a lower part at an angle thereto, a connection to said antenna comprising a condenser, one element of which is of hell shape and another element of which is the upturned end of said lower part, said lower part being housed within said bellshape art whereby rain-drops are excluded ielectric space of said condenser.

3. In combination, an antenna structure comprising a horizontal portion, said hori zontal portion having an L-shape terminal providing an upright part, and a bell-shape metallic element so disposed with respect to the upright part of said terminal as to con stitute a coupling condenser therewith.

4:. In combination, an antenna structure comprising a rigid horizontal portion, said horizontal portion having an L-shape terminal, a bell-shape metallic element having a flanged lip, and means for rigidly supportmg the upright part of said terminal within said bell-shape element to thereby constitute a couplmg condenser.

5. In combination. an antenna structure comprising a rigid horizontal portion, said horizontal portion having an L-shape terminal, a bellshape metallic element having a flanged lip, one portion of said flange being turned down to provide a drip-spout, and means for rigidly supporting the upright portion of said terminal within said bellshape element to constitute a coupling condenser, said spout being directed away from the horizontal portion of said terminal.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of October,

DONALD G. LITTLE. 

